Growing Microgreens

GROW THOSE (micro) GREENS!

Microgreens are so much more than the trendy ‘vegetable confetti’ you see on foodie Instagram accounts!

Beyond being photogenic, microgreens are the poster child for the phrase “Good things come in small packages”.

• They Pack 10-40 times as much nutrition as their full-grown counterparts
• They are ready to harvest in 2-3 weeks
• They don’t require any extra equipment to grow

In case you’re wondering what I’m talking about… Microgreens include a wide variety of edible immature plants. Varieties of greens, herbs flowers and vegetables lend themselves to being eaten while small. You do not eat the roots like with sprouts. You harvest by cutting above the soil level and eating the stem and leaves.

It is no secret that I LOVE my microgreens… and I want to share with you how easy it can be to grow your own nutritious and delicious micros! I also love my local farmers, so I’ve invited Amanda Yadav, Microgreen Farmer at Fiddlehead Farm to join us and give pointers along the way… So let’s go over the basics of getting started!

Location

Like with any gardening project, starting with the best location sets you up for success! South facing windows will usually keep you growing. I will say that I don’t have much space in my sunny windows, especially in the darkest part of winter my plants benefit from a grow light. I grow mostly with these Full Spectrum Grow Lights that I bought a few years ago. They are an investment, but do pay off over time. *Consider splitting the 4 pack with another friend if you’re just getting started.*

I’ll also suggest that these are always in a place you see daily, as these babies grow FAST and you don’t want to miss the best harvest date.

Trays

You can keep it as simple as reusing take out containers, which is exactly what I did for the first winter I grew these. If you find you’re growing more, I really like these Shallow Microgreen Trays from Bootstrap Farmer. Just make sure you’ve got at least one tray that is water tight, and preferably something that can sit on top of it because for growing these cuties, we keep them in forced darkness for a few days.

Soil

There are a LOT of different soil types out there, and even some non-soil options (like coconut coir) for growing. My favorite all around potting soil is from Premier Horticulture, who usually have the best deals in store (Home Depot, Menards) for online shopping I really like the Organic Epsoma Potting Mix   My Favorite Seed Starting Mix is Organic Pro . There is a real difference in seed starting mixes and potting soils, so pay attention to what you’re buying. Amanda prefers to grow with a mixture of Coconut Coir and Perlite, stating that “it holds moisture better without getting soggy.” Always so many ways to garden- you do what works best for you!

Microgreen Seeds

You can try to grow any kind of seed as a micro – but buying the right seeds is going to be much more rewarding. My all time favorite Microgreen Seed Supplier is High Mowing Organic Seeds – the seeds from this place are the highest quality, giving me the best germination rate, and the best overall final harvest too! I have grown good micros from Johnny’s Seeds and Botanical Interests too. Amanda uses Johnny’s and a new one to me, True Leaf!

I keep adding new varieties to the mix all the time. Right now I’ve got my first round of Tokyo bunching onions started, thanks to Farmer Amanda of FiddleHead Farm. She’s the real deal, growing for Farmers Markets (including the WBL Winter Market happening Dec 12^th!), restaurants, home deliveries and even in a retail space focusing on local foods, called MinnyRow Market.

Get Growing!

• Place an inch or so of soil in the bottom of a tray, press it down so it isn’t fluffy, making as smooth as possible. Keep in mind how small these are going to be! Dampen soil.
• Scatter seeds on top of soil, so they are almost touching each other is optimal. Firm into but not covering with soil. Soaking some seeds is also recommended, like pea shoots (read seed packet for specifics). *I soak my pea seeds in a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution*
• Spray seeds to moisten and adhere to soil.

• Cover and weight down seeds. This helps them germinate and forces them into the soil, and gets them ready to really shoot up once exposed to the light.
• Remove cover + weight after day 2-3. Place in sunny window or under a grow light.
• Keep seeds watered until harvesting. I have found that mixing a small amount of hydrogen peroxide into the water really helps keep mold down in my microgreen trays too.
• Harvest by cutting (either with a sharp knife or scissors) above the soil level and rinse.
• Storage: I tend to keep a tray going and cut as I need, or if I want to switch out the trays, and harvest a lot I just place *without washing* into a container in the fridge that won’t squish them.

Big Options for Microgreens

Beginners often start by growing one type of seed, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, radish, mustard and arugula. These are the easiest-to-grow varieties of microgreens — in a single container, which is pretty much how Amanda sets up her classes… yes! Amanda teaches grow your own microgreens classes! Visit her Calendar or join her email list to stay updated on (virtual) classes coming up!

Water around the edges of the smaller trays (like 5″X5″) this will keep water off the leaves, but get water far enough into the center of the soil.

Fiddlehead Farmer Amanda

Microgreen FAQ’s

Amanda shared some of the most common questions her students have during her Microgreen Grow Classes.

Do the Microgreens regrow?
NO- when a plant is that immature and you cut off 80% of it, it doesn’t have the energy to regrow.
*exceptions, you can sometimes get a decent second harvest from pea shoots and bunching onions*

Can I reuse the soil?
NO- We use such a thin layer of soil to grow for a short time to use that resources wisely, but the root mass overtakes any chance of being able to reuse the soil.

But please recycle the spent soil, and if you have backyard chickens, they will gladly clean off any bits of green before you bring it to the compost pile 😉

“Radish micros can come back from the brink, they can get pretty dry and still grow and taste amazing, a great choice for beginners.”

Fiddlehead Farmer Amanda

Fiddlehead Farm also has a fun and gorgeous Insta Feed and Facebook Page. Amanda thinks the best part about teaching grow classes is “when day three to four rolls around and people contact me all excited that their seeds are actually growing!”

Specs On Micros

Cabbages, Radishes, Mild Mix:
Plant, weight + cover 2 days, high light 15-20 days, harvest.

Arugula:
Plant, weight + cover 1-2 days, high light 6-9 days, harvest.

Pea shoots:
Soak minimum 1-2 days, then plant, weight + cover 2 days, then high light 10 days, harvest.

Fresh Greens = Good Food

These are a fast and fun way to keep growing inside- even in the depths of our Minnesota winters. The variety of flavors, textures, grow times and colors make these so fun to grow its easy to forget just how good they are for you! If you are interested in growing salad greens a little further than the microgreen stage, I’ve got you covered in Grow a Container Salad Garden as well.

*I like the Pea Shoots with ranch, Sunflower Shoots all on their own and Mild Mix on my tacos**

my pickiest eater, age 8

Have we convinced you to give it a try, or at least seek them out at a farmers market soon? MN Grown shows over 20 microgreens farmers in our state! There’s bound to be a farmer nearby to keep you eating fresh all winter long, at least until you figure out how to grow our own!

Dig In!
Michelle